Bobcats lose 13th straight home game

CHARLOTTE – After a 7-5 start, the Charlotte Bobcats have struggled so much the last two months that fans are wondering if they are watching last year’s NBA record-worst team again.

Well, after losing a 13th straight home game on Tuesday night, 103-76 to the Indiana Pacers, this year’s Bobcats are threatening another one of last year’s Bobcats’ dubious records.

The franchise-record 23-game losing streak that ended last season – and is tied for the third-longest losing streak in NBA history – culminated with a 14th straight home loss.

A loss again Saturday against Sacramento and the Bobcats will tie that inglorious record.

In Tuesday’s game, with owner Michael Jordan sitting in a seat alongside the Bobcats’ bench for only the second time of the season, Indiana beat Charlotte 60-31 on the boards. The rebounding differential wasn’t lost on Bobcats’ coach Mike Dunlap at the half when it was 32-13.

“At halftime, the Pacers probably should’ve had a 20-point lead,” Dunlap said of the 50-40 deficit. “But we pulled it back within 10.

“The bottom line is that we’ve done pretty well when we rebound by committee. So have to help each other out. It’s got to be a ‘we’ thing.”

The best illustration of that struggle?

While the Bobcats (9-29) had seven players get a rebound in the third quarter, each of them got only one each as the Pacers (24-15) were well on their way to the blowout victory.

Gerald Henderson led Charlotte with 15 points, with Kemba Walker and Ramon Sessions adding 13 points apiece. The leading rebounder was Bismack Biyombo with six.

Walker also gave the team a scare late in the first half when he limped off after re-aggravating the left ankle he injured the night before in Boston. But Walker returned to start the second half.

Perhaps Walker was simply as tired as the rest of his teammates appeared in playing their fourth game in five nights.

“In the young history of his team, we’ve got been good in that situation,” Dunlap said of the four-game, five-night schedule. “But everybody in the league has this schedule.”

Veteran guard Ben Gordon said the team struggled with effort and energy and simply has to attack more.

For Indiana, Roy Hibbert had 18 points, Paul George 16 points and 10 rebounds, George Hill 16 points and David West 15. Former University of North Carolina star Tyler Hansbrough had nine points and three rebounds off the bench.

Notes: Among the 12,996 in attendance for Tuesday’s game was University of North Carolina coach Roy Williams. Williams sat courtside near center court with his son Scott Williams and his grandson….

Bobcats starting power forward Byron Mullens missed his 11th straight game with what Dunlap confirmed was “torn ligaments” in his left ankle after landing awkwardly in the Dec. 22 loss at Denver. Mullens’ return remains uncertain, though Dunlap said he’s starting shooting drills and continues rehabilitation in the pool in order to strengthen the left ankle….

After coming off the bench in nine of the first 20 games he played this season, Gerald Henderson started his fourth straight game Tuesday. Expect him to remain a starter as Dunlap thinks Henderson “plays better” when he starts….

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Taylor started 25 times in his first 33 games this season, but made his fourth straight appearance off the bench. Dunlap: “I’ve also found out that Jeffrey Taylor plays better when he doesn’t start.”…

The Bobcats visit Orlando on Friday at 7 p.m. before playing four straight home games – Sacramento on Saturday at 7 p.m., Houston on Monday at 2 p.m., Atlanta on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. and Minnesota on Jan. 26 at 7:30.